New boat owner - 2001 Sea Ray 190 Bow Rider - 5.0 EFI engine with Gen 2 Alphadrive.

[catfishjon123]

Hi all,
I've been looking around the forum ever since I bought this boat (October '23) and glad to see such an active forum here!

When I bought the boat, the previous owner hooked it up to the muffs and it started right up. Everything else seems to be in good order except for a few things:
* Some of the snaps for the cockpit cover have rusted, which I will look to replace. (looking forward to trying my hand at installing snaps and snads!)
* The bottom of the boat is pretty rough, and will look to paint it after prepping it - soon, or this fall after the season (I already posted on that earlier today, and can't say I'm excited about getting all the old paint off - layers and layers of it!)

I have good reason to believe the boat was salt-water, given that the trailer the boat currently sits on was sold by a marina down at the Jersey Shore. I hope that doesn't cause me too much trouble down the line. The person I bought the boat from actually didn't end up using it and had to sell it because he was moving so I got a good deal. (Assuming there aren't some major hidden issues with it.) I took a bit of a gamble too, since his name wasn't on the title - it was a skip title. Fortunately, I had no issues getting it titled and registered in my name. Anyway, if there is any advice on what I might look out for as I test it out this season, I'm all ears.

From what I've read, it sounds like anyone aspiring to be a boat owner should prepare to become a mechanic as well. Fortunately I have some good experience, so I'm as excited as I am anxious!

I've changed the gear oil and will do the engine oil very soon before putting it in the water. I was thrilled to see the oil filter on TOP of the motor versus being buried in the recesses of the bilge, as well as threaded dipstick, allowing me to pump the oil out instead of draining it. The fuel filter looks like a pain to get to because of some plastic housing on it, but not sure if I should change it this year or not? Probably prudent to do though, given my limited history of the boat.

I will be keeping it on a freshwater lake during the summers in northern Jersey.

Cheers!

Jon

 

[Lazy Daze]

Most of those boats had a carb'd V6 in it - that's a rare find with fuel injected V8.

The fuel filter is a piece of cake - look closer at the plastic box - it just unsnaps. Access is pretty good. The reason for the box was to keep the fuel cool - but it really doesn't make much of a difference in this case. Once you take it off, you can leave it off.

 

[blaster]

That boat looks pretty clean for its age. Hopefully not a spray paint rebuild but actual maintenance throughout the years. How many hours? Any maintenance history or ownership history?

 

[catfishjon123]

Yes, I was able to get the top cover piece off, but the bottom doesn't look like it will slide down far enough because there isn't much clearance. And the fact that it this engine/model combination is rare, would explain why I couldn't find much online about it. That said, worst case is I think I can unbolt the housing from the block to give me enough clearance to pull it off (and never put it back on again LOL). Thanks for the reply!

 

[catfishjon123]

That boat looks pretty clean for its age. Hopefully not a spray paint rebuild but actual maintenance throughout the years. How many hours? Any maintenance history or ownership history?

It has about 260 hours or so. Might be a little more than that. That number was in the original ad, and when I inspected it, I recall it being a few more on the odometer, but right around there. Supposedly always maintained, but I wasn't given any of the maintenance paperwork. I did see an invoice for the trailer new in 2017, and that owner paid ~2,800, so that's worth quite a bit there. I believe that was the owner who had the boat for most of it's life. I got the boat & trailer for 8k. I actually just found the original ad so I have better pics

Any thoughts on if I can get away with not painting the bottom for a season?

Thanks for your reply!

 

[blaster]

Do you plan to keep it on the trailer or slipped in the water?

 

[JHornsby3]

Some reading for you.

https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/owners-manuals-files/2001_190%20Bow%20Rider_1997-2004_Sport_Boats_Manual.pdf

https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/owners-manuals-files/2001_190%20Bow%20Rider_190_Bow_Rider.pdf

https://s3.amazonaws.com/srweb-pvt-prod-us-east-1-294962523550/static/parts-manuals/2001__2001-190-BOW-RIDER.pdf

https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/propeller-charts-files/2001%20Sport%20Boat%20Sport%20Cruiser%20Prop%20Chart.pdf

https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/model-archive-files/1C1_27_74DERNX6F141.pdf

 

[catfishjon123]

Do you plan to keep it on the trailer or slipped in the water?

Slipped in the water.

 

[blaster]

Paint will pay for itself then. I wouldn’t skimp on maintenance when you stay slipped.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yes, I was able to get the top cover piece off, but the bottom doesn't look like it will slide down far enough because there isn't much clearance. And the fact that it this engine/model combination is rare, would explain why I couldn't find much online about it. That said, worst case is I think I can unbolt the housing from the block to give me enough clearance to pull it off (and never put it back on again LOL). Thanks for the reply!

It'll go. You just have to wiggle it in the right direction.

Your boat model with that engine is rare - but that engine is a dime-a-dozen - so it's easy to get info on the engine. However, the plastic box is the same regardless of what engine is in the bay.